As we move into the fifth round of the 2021-22 Emirates FA Cup, one thing is for certain: We will have new champions. Holders Leicester City were hammered 4-1 by Championship team Nottingham Forest in the fourth round –– an upset only topped by Nottingham’s fellow second-tier side Middlesbrough knocking out Manchester United at the same stage.
With the last 16 now including more than a handful of lower division outfits, and only two of the ties –– Liverpool vs Norwich City and Southampton vs West Ham –– being all-Premiership affairs, many of the big boys could feel that this year is theirs for the taking. But in a tournament that’s famous for shock results, there are bound to be more twists and turns before the last men standing slug it out at Wembley on May 14th. Let’s take a look at the runners and riders.
Manchester City
Flying high at the top of the Premiership and with a Champions League quarter-final berth almost in the bag courtesy of a 5-0 thumping of Sporting CP (in Lisbon), City fans won’t be unduly worried about visiting Peterborough United for their fifth-round FA Cup tie. While Irish eyes will be keeping watch on Posh’s recently capped Sammie Szmodics and 2020 FAI Under-21 Player Of The Year Jack Taylor, they have their work cut out against midfield adversaries the caliber of Phil Foden, Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne. Oddsmakers agree, with the home side being routinely quoted at or above 25/1 for the tie.
Liverpool
Again, the beneficiaries of a reasonably kind draw –– Norwich are currently fighting for their lives at the wrong end of the Premiership table –– Liverpool are clear favorites to progress from the game at Anfield. Norwich have struggled to score all season; main striker Teemu Pukki has 6 in 27 games, and only five of the Canaries’ squad have scored more than once in any competition. To further compound Norwich’s potential problems, Liverpool’s Andy Robertson needs no introduction to their star man Billy Gilmour. He’s been Gilmour’s captain in all 13 of the Chelsea loanee’s Scotland international appearances. These clubs’ last meeting at Anfield ended with Liverpool running out 3-1 winners, and there’s little reason to suspect much different in their upcoming Cup clash.
Tottenham Hotspur
Spurs are an intriguing proposition for the Cup this year. They’ve won it eight times (nobody else still in this year’s tournament have taken it more often), and on their day, they’re capable of beating anyone –– as illustrated by their recent victory over City at the Etihad. With Spurs no longer in Europe, their players should also have less wear and tear than those of City, Chelsea and Liverpool, who are all still competing in the Champions League. Spurs’ fifth round outing could be a trickier tie though, as they head north to face Manchester United’s conquerors Middlesbrough. With all of this taken into account, the most up-to-date FA Cup odds at Coral have Antonio Conte’s men at 7/1 to win the tournament –– fourth-best behind that “big three,” each of which have other competitions to worry about. Expect those odds to shorten further if Tottenham can quell Boro’s newfound taste for big scalps.
Southampton
The Saints’ tie at home to West Ham is the most delicately balanced of the fifth round. At time of writing, Southampton sit 10th in the Premiership with 32 points –– with their opponents sixth on 42, only four points behind the top four and a Champions League berth. The form book can’t put any space between them, with both sides on similar odds for the tie. If the home side don’t have the strength in depth of the Hammers, they do, however have some potent individual threats. An injury-free Theo Walcott running at defenses is still a joy to behold, and no less than Pep Guardiola was recently quoted in Sportbible as stating that James Ward-Prowse is “the best free kick taker in the world.” If West Ham are potentially (and understandably, if so) more focused on their league campaign, then the Cup would give Southampton players on the fringes of their international setups –– Ward-Prowse himself and Stuart Armstrong amongst them –– a great chance to showcase for their national bosses ahead of World Cup 2022.
Other potential threats loom as well. After winning the FA Cup four times as a player, Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira knows what it takes; Conor Gallagher and Wilfried Zaha will make life tough for any opponents. Likewise, a Cup triumph for new Everton manager Frank Lampard would buy him some time in that club’s seemingly endless carousel of hiring and firing coaches. A defeat to non-league Boreham Wood in the 5th round… well, that could be the biggest Cup upset of their 143-year history. And with Forest at home to Huddersfield, at least one non-Premiership side will be among the quarter-finalists.
Maybe the Cup has some more romance in it yet.